REGINA
The King might have been dead but Regina was smiling. Her cunning plans had undoubtedly been successful and she delighted in studying the pale and pained expression of her dead husband. The Queen left her place beside his body, with a veil trellising over her face. Black had always suited her and she admired her reflection in the holy font before she left the Sept. All days must be ruined however she sighed inwardly, and Regina rolled her eyes as her tear-stained step daughter blighted her view. She might have used her personal guard to escape the girl's wallowing misery but unfortunately she had to face her at some point during the day. As she moved to converse with her nemesis, the distraught Mary Baratheon embraced her sickly blonde betrothed. He stroked her hair lovingly as she cried into his shoulder, a sight that made Regina nauseous. She used to respect the fierce and determined Lannisters for their tenacity yet her step daughter had seemed to secure herself a kitten in comparison. He might have the skill of a knight and the look of a Lannister but no fire, no roar. Regina cleared her throat and braced her tongue for the cruel amount of lies she was about to spurt.
'May you find peace on this dreadful day.' She greeted her, slowly pulling back the veil to reveal a rehearsed frown on her distraught features. Mary quickly recovered, wiping the tears from her eyes not wanting to show her weakness. She failed miserably.
'Thank you your grace. I will be there to comfort her at this time of mourning,' David Lannister answered for her. The weak, heartfelt smile he offered only preceded to irritate her. 'I hope you also find peace on this tragic occasion.' He said with a bow of his head and to avoid further conversation he guided her away. Regina tutted with a new coming sense of boredom. It had taken weeks of carefully prescribed planning to kill him without even a thread leading back to her. Whatever would she do with her new found time?
'You realise there is no cure for guilt and regret,' A soft but patronising voice that Regina both despised and looked forward to hearing sounded from behind her. 'Although, I hear the Maester's efforts are perilous.'
'Lord Varys. I assure you that I have no idea of what you may be referring to.' She answered simply and innocently but her masking wouldn't fool a man of such knowledge. 'Come to pay your respects?' She inquired sarcastically. The slimy bald spider seemed to have appeared from no where as always.
'Oh most certainly. I know that our King will be sorely missed. The Seven Kingdoms will weep with despair.' His unmatched wit was a trait that they both seemed to share. Regina however, could never reveal the man behind the secrets or discover his true intentions.
'I'm sure they will.' She said curtly hoping that Varys had something interesting to tell her. That was the essence of these 'little chats' of theirs. He rarely sought her out for a discussion over the weather.
'I thought that her grace might want to know of her up and coming upheaval.' He quipped after leaving her stew in her suspicions for a few aching moments. He waited for her reaction, draping his robes over a hairless arm.
'Lord Varys you are a tease. I am the Queen of Westeros now.' She countered with a slight laugh. She had dealt with the only threat of her assimilation to the throne. His features were unwavering though and the Queen let a hint of doubt creep in causing her to frown. 'You cannot deny that…can you?'
'There has been speculation, that after the betrothal of Mary Baratheon and David Lannister they will claim the Iron Throne, not you.' The seriousness of his tone held the truth of the matter and Regina's blood boiled with all consuming fury. They take the throne! It was hers, she had made it so! Surely there was a mistake in this assumption? Her face remained the same despite her inward fuming, from the outside her features could only be perceived as serene and thoughtful. Since her arranged marriage Regina had become adept in being able to hide her true emotions. She would vent her fury later on some useless servant. Not wanting to see the mocking grin on his smug face Regina pressed forward with flip of her raven hair.
Regina wore black on the wedding of Mary Baratheon and David Lannister. She watched with undiluted misery as her lands and titles crumbled before her. She wasn't a seer but she could see her future crashing down before her. She will be pushed from her throne and quarters to some minuscule chamber. She will be stripped of her wealth and be made to watch as Westeros was ruled without her. The black and gold of Baratheon was replaced with the red and gold of Lannister. A quick exchanging of the cloaks and the couple were wedded with concluding cheers from the onlookers. All but one. There was no denying that Regina radiated happiness and enthusiasm but inside she was positively convulsing with hatred.
The feast was as loathsome as the ceremony. Entertainers had rejoiced with the Lords and Ladies of King's Landing and a mighty feast had been held in their honour. The only good thing about the event was the constant flow of wine. Regina was a fan of the Dornish wine and she had lost count after her fifth glass.
'Not even Dornish wine can obscure shame and regret.' Teased the voice of Petyr Baelish, who dismissed the Lord sitting next to her and sat stroking his facial goatee. She had yet to decide whether this man' worth was as promising as the Spider's. The man was as slippery as his adversary but at least his goal was evident. Power.
'What a coincidence, Lord Varys shared words along those lines. Be careful Lord Baelish or you may find yourself in the same position as my late husband.' Regina said behind her glass. How else would such a plan succeed without a little help? She sipped it slowly watching him with careful eyes.
'Did he now? Well great minds think alike they say. I however, have not come to gloat but come with something that might interest you,' His voice dropped down to a whisper as the bard finished his song. He began to play the Bear and Maiden Fair before Baelish started again. 'I have heard rumours your grace that will be as delicious to hear as the wine on your lips.'
'Go on.' She said not too eagerly knowing that most rumours turn out to be foolish words of some drunk. Little Finger would hear such things in his line of business.
'Now I hope that your grace remembers that it was I who told you this…' He started which instantly made the short strings of her temper start to crack.
'You snake, just get on with it.' She snapped the chords of the bard's lute adding to her frustration. The Hummingbird nodded a few times before continuing.
'There are sayings across the seas that a young woman corrupted by the magic of the undying is in fact the bastard of your innocent step-daughter.' He revealed, the words delighting on his tongue. Regina scoffed at his allegations but part of her wanted to believe that such a scandal were true.
'You mock me Lord Baelish.' She said in pretend outrage. He was right. She was certainly interested.
'Now both of us know that is not true. I wouldn't have brought this to your attention otherwise.' He flashed a grin, the golden pin of his hummingbird catching the light of the fiery sconces.
'Do you know the source of the rumour? I wish to dig a little deeper.' She said quietly as the bard finished again.
'Meet me at the Sept tonight and we will discuss the information further.' He whispered before getting up to leave. Regina looked over to the newly wed bride and groom. Their faces beaming with desiring love and endearment. Then she thought of the destruction she could bring to their lives if she could fetch this corrupted bastard to court. The smile that broke across her face was no act.